Avon Police Cadets Attend Regional Competition

Six members of the Avon police department's cadet program attended a program this summer for police cadets from around New England. Standing from left are Lachlan Mundair, Lexi Pastizzo, Andrew Celli and Richie Hefler. In front from left are Catriana and Jaelle Hersey. All are from Avon, except Hefler who is from Canton.

Six members of the Avon police department's cadet program attended a program this summer for police cadets from around New England. Standing from left are Lachlan Mundair, Lexi Pastizzo, Andrew Celli and Richie Hefler. In front from left are Catriana and Jaelle Hersey. All are from Avon, except Hefler who is from Canton.

Avon police cadets attended a regional program

AVON — The town police department's growing cadet program sent members to a regional competition for the first time recently, with four of them among the top finishers in parts of the contest.

Six members of the police department's cadet program went to the New England Law Enforcement Educational Association's annual Cadet Police Academy, held at the University of Hartford from July 27 to Aug. 2. Participants received intense, classroom instruction on police work and then had to demonstrate what they learned in tests they chose.

According to an announcement, Catriana and Jaelle Hersey, sisters who are students at Avon High School, came in first place for female teams in a practical skills test. Lexi Pastizzo, another student at Avon High School, came in second for a female team in the same competition. Andrew Cell, who recently graduated from Avon High School and now attends High Point College in North Carolina, came in third in a test that assessed participants in handling high-stress situations, according to the announcement. Other students who participated in the cadet academy were Richie Hefler and Lachlan Mundair.

Sgt. Lisa Petkis said this was the first year members of the cadet program participated in the academy. "The kids were interested and we have been making progress," Petkis said about the decision to participate.

The town police department has had a cadet program for many years. Petkis took it over in 2012 and she said in that time the number of students participating has tripled. She said 16 are now in the program, including three students from Canton and one each from Farmington and Simsbury. The cadet program is open to youths from 14 to 20 years old, Petkis said.

With the program growing, Petkis said she is seeking funding to buy a van or small bus to transport cadets to programs out of town. Right now, cruisers are used but with so many students that is no longer feasible. "Transportation really limits how many students we can take in the program and what we can do with them," Petkis said.